Fansided

Best MLB player on each team in 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers: Nicholas Castellanos

Giving Miguel Cabrera the nod on this rebuilding Detroit Tigers team just doesn’t work. The 35-year-old first baseman and future Hall of Famer just hasn’t held up the same way as Joey Votto has in Cincinnati. Cabrera lost almost all of the 2018 season due to injury and hit just .249/.329/.399 in 2017. The Tigers are on the hook for five more seasons, and have to hope Cabrera can somehow stop the grains of sand that are running out of his career’s hourglass.

Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos is the best of the remaining Tigers roster. The 27-year-old has put together three solid seasons in a row, and is now a legitimate threat for 30 homers and 100 RBI. He has hit .285/.336/.495 with 67 home runs and 248 RBI over the past three seasons. If the Tigers play their cards right, Castellanos looks like an attractive trade chip at this year’s trade deadline.

There isn’t much else to get excited about on the 2019 Tigers roster, unless you’re buying into the hot start for Jordan Zimmermann or Tyson Ross. Unfortunately, 2016 AL Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer is down with Tommy John surgery after making only 24 starts last year and going 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA and diminished velocity.

This is what happens when a well-meaning owner like Mike Ilitch pumps millions of dollars into aging free agents on a late-stage contender while neglecting the farm system. The Tigers are still quite a few years away from being able to field a winning club.

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